Demitra Participates in Practice

After skating on his own for two days, Pavol Demitra participated in a full practice Saturday for the first time since he underwent surgery on March 24 to repair a nasal fracture.

Demitra is targeting Monday for his return, pending results of tests performed Saturday to gauge his recovery from the concussion he suffered on March 14.

The fracture, caused when he was hit in the face by a puck while playing for his native Slovakia at the Olympics, moved a bone toward his right eye and blurred his vision. He sat out the first six games after the Olympic break and sustained the concussion in his first game back.

“I don’t want to play just one game and get killed again. After surgery and everything, I just have to make sure I’m ready,” he said. “The surgery helped a lot. Finally I can breathe and my nose is straight, which helps a lot breathing and skating.”

However, the pupil in his right eye is larger than the left. “I don’t think the vision is ever going to be that great, but I don’t worry about it anymore,” he said.

Center Eric Belanger was a late scratch from the lineup, because of concussion-like symptoms. Back problems kept Aaron Miller out for the third straight game and Derek Armstrong for the fourth straight game. Interim Coach John Torchetti said they’re both day to day. Defenseman Nathan Dempsey (concussion) is also out.

-- Helene Elliott